Mutoscope.



M. H. SPEAR.

' MUTOSCOPE.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV. {3. 1915.

1,256,604. Patented Feb. 19,1918. v

3 SHEETS-SHUT g fiiasaes: I M 91 v 0720566 zear M. H. SPEAR.

MUTOSCOPE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3, I915.

1,256,604. Patented Feb. 19,1918

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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M. H. SPEAR1 MUTOSCOPE.

' APPLICATION HL'ED NOV. 13. 1915. 1,256,604. Patented Feb. 19,1918.

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MONCRIEFF H; SPEAK, 0F BENTON HARBOR, 'MTCHIGAN.

iviu'roscorn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Applicationfiled November 13, 1915. Serial No. 61,205.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Moxcnmrr H. SPEAK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Benton Harbor, in the county of Berri-en and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mutoscopes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mutoscopes and consists of the matters hereinafter describedand more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind described which is comparatively small and'is of economical construction so as to be adaptable to domestic use and in which the picture cards and the pictures thereon are so arranged that a moving picture corresponding to a picture shown on about one thousand feet of film in the ordinary moving picture machine, may be confined and operated in a comparatively small space. In addition, the machine is so arranged that the book of pictures is removable and readily replaceable and is therefore capable of use with each of a stock of bucks of the same type. Each machine may be thus used in connection with a central circulating library from which the pictures may be delivered, either by mail or otherwise, at comparatively small cost.

The many advantages of my invention will appear more clearly as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Figure l is a perspective view of my improved mutoscope.

Fig. 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section along the longitiudinal central axis of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line -l4. of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a View representing the horizontal section through the machine in a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative arrangement of the pictures on the successive cards."

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the manner in which the picture cards are attached to a belt or band.

Referring now'to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings:10 indicates the case or cabinet of my improved mutoscopic' device. This is a metallic shell made approximately in the form of a cylinder placed horizontally, with fiat, upright closed end walls 10 10", which are projected below the main body of the case to provide end supports 10 1O for the same. The said shell is open at the bottom;

The upper part of the case 10 consists of a lid or cover 10, which closes upon the'bottcm part or main body 10 of the case. The said lid is hinged to the bottom part or body as indicated at 11 and the free margin of the lid, opposite the hinge, is detachabl y connected inany suitable manner as indicated at 12, to the body of the case. Each of the upright end walls 10, 10, of the case are made double with a space between to provide a gear case, and the innermost upright members of said walls are provided with short. arcuate angle bars 10 10, which form a support for the ends of the lid member 10 to prevent sagging thereof. (See Fig. a.)

Vlithin the case is located a carriage which is mounted to move from end to end of the case. To give bearing for this carriage, the body of the case is provided at the sides of its open bottom with two parallel, longitudinally extending rails 13, 13. A plate 14, which constitutes the base of the carriage, is mounted to slide on said rails, being provided at its lateral margins with hearing parts 15, 15, that are complementary to the rails 18. The complementary bearing parts 15, 13, are preferably made to form a ball race containing anti-friction balls 16. These balls may be maintained in proper spaced relation during the movement of the carriage in any convenient manner and as shown, I have provided in each ball race a wire 17 provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced halt round loops 17. for engagement with the respective balls. Longitudinally extending angle bars 13*, 13 fixed to the sides of the casing adjacent the rails 13, 13, prevent vertical displacement and rattling of said carriage. The base plate 14 has upright bearing members 18, 19, fixed at its ends. The one bearing member 19 is made duplex, with a space between the two sections 19, 19 to form a gear case 19*.

On the carriage thus constiuted by the base plate 1% and the upright bearing members 18, 19, is rotatively mounted a drum 20, which forms the support for the picture cards of the mutoscope. Said drum has a fixed bearing sleeve 22 which bears on an arbor 0r shaft 21 carried by the bearing members 18, 19. The drum is prevented from rotation on the shaft 21 by means of a cotter pin 23 which passes through the sleeve 22 and the shaft 21.

Means are provided for rotating the drum and means are also provided for at the same time, imparting to it a progressive, longitudinal movement in the direction of the length of the case, as follows. A gear 2% is fixed to one end of the shaft 21, the same being inclosed within the gear case formed in the bearing member 19. In the bottom of the case or cabinet 10, at one side, is rotatably mounted a longitudinally extending screw 25. On the opposite side of the case 10, and extending parallel to the screw 25 is rotatably mounted a shaft 26 throughout part of the length of which is formed a broad-faced gear 27. A clip 28 fixed to the base plate 11' of the carriage near one end is en aged with the screw 25 in such manner that as said screw is rotated, the clip and with it the carriage, will be driven endwise of the case 10.

29 indicates an intermediate idle gear rotatively mounted in the gear case formed in the bearing member 19 and meshing on one side with the gear 2% on the shaft 21 and meshing on the other side with the broadfaced gear 27 on the shaft 26.

In each of the two gear casings in the end walls 10*, 10*, of the case, there is rotatively mounted near the bottom of the case a stud shaft 30, on which is fixed a small spur gear 81. One end of said stud shaft projects beyond the end wall of the case and is squared to receive a crank arm A large spur gear 31 is located in each gear casing in the end wall of the case and is fixed on the shaft 26 that carries the broad-faced gear 27, this large gear 31 also being enmesh with the spur gear 31 on the driving stud. A somewhat smaller gear 35 fixed on the screw shaft 25 is also located in each of the said gear casings and is enmesh with the large gear (just mentioned) on the shaft 26. Thus, manifestly, when the driving stud is rotated, as for example, in the direction of the arrow, (as illustrated in Fig. 1) there will be imparted to the drum 2 through the small spur gear 30, the large gear 3% on the shaft :26, the broad-faced gear 27 on said shaft 26, the intermediate gear 29 in the gear case of the bearing member 19 and the gear 25 on the shaft 21, :1.

rotative movement in a direction opposite to the before-mentioned arrow. This will be manifest from an examillation of Fig. 4. At the same time the rotative movement imparted to the spur gear 30 in the turning of the crank arm will impart a rotative movement through the gear to the screw shaft 25 so as to cause the carriage carrying the drum 20 to travel endwise of the case.

36 indicates the picture members or cards of the mutoscope, which are mounted on the drum 20 and the pictures thereon are viewed (as they are rapidly and successively brought to position), through an opening 37 formed in the lid 10 of the case. The case is provided with two of such openings, 37, 37", placed on opposite sides of the case, and the cards bear pictures, as will presently appear, on both sides, so that one opening, 37, will disclose to view the pictures on one side of the cards when the drum is 1'0 tated and fed in one direction in the case, and the other opening, 87, will disclose to view the pictures on the opposite sides of the cards when the drum is rotated and fed in the opposite direction in the case. In connection with each of these openings is provided the usual trip plate 38, which is adapted to trip the cards as they come opposite the associated opening in a familiar manner. The openings are each closed by the usual glass or lens 39.

The picture cards 36 are secured to a band 40 which is made of any suitable material such as canvas, felt, leather, or the like. Said band is of a length somewhat less than the length of the circumference of the drum and adjacent the ends ail of said belt are provided transversely extending elastic strips 40 (see Fig. 3). Fixed to these elastic strips, in any convenient manner, are loops 40" of tape or like material which are adapted to engage over suitable turn buttons 2O fixed to the drum 20. The band with the picture members or cards, which may be called a book. is thus made removable from the drum. The cards 36 are sewed or otherwise attached to the band in some such manner as shown in Fig. 7 and the book sections in which they are sewed are placed close together so that when the band is applied to the drum, the cards will stand close packed in substantially a position radial to the drum.

The said picture members or cards are made of such length with reference to the size of the pictures to be viewed that a plu 'ality of views arranged side by side may be placed, lengthwise upon the cards. Said views are printed on the cards in succession with the views on each succeeding card slightly offset from the views on the card immediately preceding, as plainly indicated in Fig. 6, and the amount of the offset is Such that when the book of cards is mounted on the drum, these successive views will be arranged in a spiral about the drum, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 6, 13, i3, 43", H, 4%, 44 45, i5, -15". represent the respective views in each spiral on one side of the cards a d as will be readily understood, the last view of the spiral series 43 will come next to the first view of the series 44: which will be slightly offset from it, while the last view of the series it will come next and in precedence to the first picture of the series 45, which will be slightly offset from it. The gearing is so designed that for each revolution of the drum, the drum will be displaced longitudinally in the case a distance equal to the width of one of the pictures and the pictures themselves are so oflset on the cards in succession that as the drum is rotated on its axis and advanced in the case, the pictures will be accurately presented to View opposite one of the openings 37, 37*, (depending upon which way the drum is being fed and rotated.)

The pictures are printed on the reverse side of the cards in the same manner, so that after the drum has been caused to travel to one end of the case, the handle may be removed from one stud 31. and attached to the other stud and the drum caused to rotate and travel in the opposite direction, thus bring ing to view opposite the other opening, 37*, another set of pictures or a continuation of the first set on the obverse sides of the cards.

It will be manifest that by this arrange ment a book of pictures equal to a film in the ordinary moving picture machine of a great length may be provided for in a comparatively small space.

The book of pictures may be removed and another substituted in its place by simply detaching the band 40. In order to rotate the drum into a position. to get at the turn buttons 42, it is simply necessary to remove the cotter pin 23, when the drum may be rotated freely on its shaft 21. It is of course necessary to open the lid 10 of the case in order to do this and in order to replace one book of picture cards with another book of picture cards.

The case 10 may be provided with suit able handles 56 for carrying it about in the household or in other places where it is used.

While in describing my invention, I have referred to certain details of construction and arrangement, it to be understood that these may be varied and modified in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and that the invention is in no way to be limited except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, a carriage movable in said case, a drum rotatively mounted on said carriage, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, and means for imparting both an endwise movement to said carriage and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of travel of the car riage such that the pictures on the cards will be presented. in succession opposite said view openin 2. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, a carriage movable in said case, a drum rotatively mounted on said carriage, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, each card bearing a plurality of pictures arranged side by side in the direction of the length of the card, and the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, with each picture on any card forming the beginning of a spiral turn about the drum and the picture adjacent to it on the same card forming the end of said spiral turn and the beginning of the next spiral turn, and means for imparting both an endwise movement to said carriage and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of travel of the carriage such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in their successive spiral relation opposite said view opening.

In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening a carriage movable in said case, a drum rotatively mounted on said carriage, a book of picture cards consisting of a band and a plurality of cards attached thereto together with means for detachably securing said band in place on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, and, means for imparting both an endwise movement to said carriage and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of travel of the carriage such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession opposite said view opening.

at. In a mntoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening. a carriage movable in said case, a drum rotatively mounted on said carriage, a book of picture cards consisting of a band and a plurality of cards attached thereto together with means for detachably securing said band in place on said drum, each card bearing a plurality of pictures arranged side by side in the direction of the length of the card. and the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, with each picture on any card forming the beginning of a spiral turn about the drum and the picture adjacent to it on the same card forming the end of said spiral turn and the beginning of the next spiral turn, and means for imparting both an endwise movement to said carriage and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of travel ot' the carriage such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in their successive spiral relation opposite said view opening.

5. A book of picture cards adapted for use on the drum of a mutoscope, consisting of a flexible band and of a plurality of cards attached to said band, each card bearing a plurality of pictures arranged side by side in the direction of the length of the card, the pictures on each successive card being offset from the corresponding picture on the preceding card in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation when said drum is rotated, and the pictures on each card being the equispirally-spaced pictures of a series.

6. A book of picture cards adapted for attachment to the drum of a mutoscope of the kind described. consisting of a flexible band and a plurality of cards attached to said band, each card bearing a plurality of pictures arranged side by side in the direction of the length of the card, and the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation when the band is mounted on said drum, with each picture on any card forming the begim'iing of a spiral turn about the drum and the picture adjacent to it on the same card forming the end of said spiral turn and the beginning of the next spiral turn.

7. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, a carriage movable in said case. a drum rotatively mounted on said carriage, said drum being adapted to support a book of picture cards, and means for imparting both an endwise movement to said carriage and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of travel of the carriage.

S. In a mutoscope', in combination with a case provided with a view opening, and endwise traveling, rotatable drum in said case, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, the pictureson successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, means for imparting a rotative movement to said drum, means for imparting an endwise movement to said drum and means providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotative movement of said drum and the rate of endwise movement of said drum, such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession in line with the said view opening.

9. In a rnutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, an endv-xise traveling, rotatable drum in said case, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being otl'set in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on sait drum, means for imparting both a rotativc movement and an endwise movement to said drum, and means providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotative movementof said drum and the rate of endwise movement of said drum, such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession in line with said view opening.

10. A mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, an endwise traveling, rotatable drum, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in uccessive spiral relation on said drum, means for imparting both an endwise and rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of the drum and the rate of endwise travel of the same so that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession opposite said view opening.

11. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, an endwise traveling, rotatable drum, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, each card bearing a plurality of pictures arranged side by side in the direction of the length of said card, and the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, with each picture on any card forming the beginning of a spiral turn about the drum and the picture adjacent to it on the same card forming the end of said spiral turn and the beginning of the next spiral turn, means for imparting an endwise and a rotative movement to said drum, said means including gearing providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of said drum and the rate of endwise travel of the same so that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession opposite said view opening.

1:2. In a mutoscopc, in combination with a case having a view opening, an endwise traveling, rotatable drum in said case, a

book of picture cards consisting of a band and of a plurality of cards attached thereto, together with means for detachably securing said band in place on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, means for imparting an endwise movement to said drum, means for imparting a rotative movement to said drum and means providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation and the rate of endwise movement of said drum, so that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession in line with said view openin 13. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case provided with a view opening, a drum capable of an endwise traveling movement and of a rotative movement in said case, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, the pictures on successive cards being offset in such manner to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, means for imparting a rotative movement to said drum, means for imparting an endwise movement to said drum, means providing a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of said drum and the rate of endwise movement of said drum, such that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession before said View openin and a plate adapted to trip said cards as they approach said view opening.

1%. In a mutoscope, in combination with a case having a plurality of oppositely disposed view openings, a drum capable of an endivise hack and forth traveling movement and of a rotative movement in opposite directions, a book of picture cards mounted on said drum, said cards having pictures on both sides thereof, the pictures on one side of said cards being associated with one of said view openings and the pictures on the other side of said cards being associated with the other view opening, the pictures on the one side of successive cards being offset in such manner as to appear in successive spiral relation on said drum, when the drum rotates and travels endwise in one direction, and the pictures on the other side of said cards being similarly otiset so that they will appear in successive spiral relation when the drum rotates and travels endwise in the reverse direction, means for imparting a rotative movement to said drum and means for imparting an endwise movement to said drum, and means providing such a predetermined relation between the rate of rotation of said drum and the rate of endwise movement of said drum, that the pictures on the cards will be presented in succession before the associated view opening.

In testimony, that I, claim the foregoing as my invention 1 atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 8th day of November A. D. 1915.

MONCRIEFF H. SPEAK.

\Vitnesses Mnmur'r C. GAMBLE, Many M. GILSON.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

